Public Speaking for People Who Hate Public Speaking (Arch Ready Fall 2026)

Many people dislike (and avoid) speaking in front of others. The reality, though, is that speaking up is a skill people use throughout their career, no matter what field they go into. From class presentations and interviews to meetings, group projects, and workplace conversations, how people communicate matters.

Stephanie Butler, senior communications coordinator from the Office of Student Success and Achievement, will lead this session focused on student learning of practical, realistic strategies to manage nerves, organize thoughts, and speak clearly in everyday academic and professional situations. Attendees will also learn about UGA's Presentation Collaboratory and how this on-campus resource can help you develop your public speaking skills.

Learning Objectives:

Identify common sources of public speaking anxiety and apply strategies to manage nervesOrganize ideas quickly and clearly for impromptu speakingCommunicate with confidence in academic, interview, and workplace settingsPractice speaking in a low-pressure, supportive environmentRecognize how public speaking skills translate across careers and industries**To receive credit for this program, students must log in through Handshake and complete the survey at the end of the session. Access to this event will be made available 5 minutes before the scheduled start time.